Collapsible dog bowls are a necessity if you travel with your dog. If you’re going on a hike or a road trip together, you need to make sure your dog has a way to easily drink water and eat food without making a mess or wasting resources. Collapsible dog water bowls are good for taking on the go because they fold down, which saves space in your bag, and they’re usually made of easy-to-clean material, so you can simply rinse or wipe them out.
Collapsible dog bowls are, surprisingly, not all the same. Each one has features that make them unique, so we have put together a list of product reviews to make it easier for you to find a collapsible dog water bowl that works for you and your dog, as well as a buyer’s guide to help you easily compare products.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2022 Update)
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | COMSUN Collapsible Dog Bowl |
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Best Value | WootPet Collapsible Dog Bowl |
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Premium Choice | Leashboss Collapsible Dog Bowls |
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Friends Forever Collapsible Dog Bowl |
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Guardians Large Collapsible Dog Bowls |
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The 10 Collapsible Dog Bowls for Travel
1. COMSUN Collapsible Dog Bowl – Best Overall
The Comsun Collapsible Dog Bowl actually comes as a two-pack. You can use one as a food dish and one as a water dish, or you can use both for water if you have two dogs. The collapsible design allows you to fold them down when not in use. Once folded, you can attach them to the carabiners and hook them onto your backpack to save space inside your pack. The material is a durable, BPA-free silicone, so it’s safe for your pets, and it can withstand rough terrain and survive a great deal of use, so these bowls should last you a long time. The silicone is also easy to clean.
These bowls can be a tad difficult to pop out. Over time, however, they should loosen up.
- Two bowls for food and water
- Carabiners for carrying
- BPA-free silicone
- Collapsible for storage
- Easy to clean
- Can be tough to pop out
2. WootPet Collapsible Dog Bowl – Best Value
The WootPet Collapsible Dog Bowl comes as a set of two colored bowls — blue and green — so you can differentiate between the ones designated as food or water to keep them clean. The set includes two carabiners for carrying while walking or hiking. The silicone is BPA free and easy to clean. Being collapsible, they can be easily stored or attached.
The main con with the WootPet bowls is that they are smaller than the COMSUN bowls. They are about 2 inches smaller in diameter and about 0.4 inches shallower. The WootPet are, however, the best option for the money because they are less expensive but still comparable to the COMSUN.
- Great value
- Two pack for food and water
- Carabiners for carrying
- BPA-free silicone
- Collapsible for storage
- Easy to clean
- Smaller than the COMSUN
- Another helpful idea? Spill Proof Bowls
3. Leashboss Collapsible Dog Bowls – Premium Choice
The Leashboss Collapsible Dog Bowls can hold more food and water than some of their silicone competitors, up to 64 ounces of water and 8 cups of kibble. They have a water-proof interior, so you don’t need to worry about leaking, since it is a more flexible material. As such, it is able to fold up completely, so you can attach it with the metal clip or store it away in your bag. It also has a drawstring to seal up food, so you can take it on the go.
This product is more expensive than some of the other options, mainly because of the size and the durable, waterproof material. These features may be worth the extra money to you. However, it has also been reported that there is a bad, chemical-like smell when first using this product. It could go away over time with extra washing, but it can be quite strong, so that may be a deterrent.
- Holds 64 oz. of water, 8 cups of kibble
- Waterproof interior
- Folds completely
- Includes metal clips
- Drawstring for transportation
- More expensive
- Bad smell
4. Friends Forever Collapsible Dog Bowl
The Friends Forever Collapsible Dog Bowl shares characteristics with the Leashboss bowls because they are made of nylon, foldable, FDA-approved material. They come in sizes that are larger than some of the other bowls.
The Friends Forever bowl comes in a set of two, but one is large and the other is small, which may not be what you are looking for. It is water-resistant but not water-proof, as leaking will occur after just a short amount of time. It is also difficult to carry and store these bowls because the plastic clips they come with are hard to open, although you could attach your own carabiner to the clip to make it work better. Because of the bad clips, they’re not great for storage, as they can get lost in your bag.
- Large sizes
- Foldable material
- FDA approved
- Two pack comes with one large bowl and one small bowl
- Water resistant
- Bad plastic clips
- Not great for storage
5. Guardians Large Collapsible Dog Water Bowls
The Guardians Collapsible bowls comes as a two-pack with two different colors for easy differentiation. They are made of plastic and can collapse down for easy storage. They claim to be large, holding up to 38 ounces of water and 4.2 cups of kibble, but the size differs due to manual measurement during manufacturing. These have also been shown to be poor quality, as the seams where the bowl collapses can tear over time.
They are a good inexpensive option — just know what you’re paying for.
- Holds up to 38 oz. of water, 4 cups of kibble
- Collapsible plastic
- Includes carabiners
- Two-pack
- Size differs due to manual measurement
- Poor quality
6. Franklin Pet Supply Collapsible Travel Bowl
The Franklin Pet Supply Collapsible Travel Bowl is a nice size for dogs who need a little food or water on the go. It includes a carabiner for easy travel, and it’s made of collapsible, BPA-free silicone material for safe usage.
This product includes only one bowl instead of two, which is a bit of a drawback considering the previous products. It is kind of heavy, which doesn’t make it ideal for hooking to your pet’s collar or leash on a walk. It is also flimsy, which may indicate that it doesn’t hold up well over time. These things aside, it’s a fine option for the price.
- Good size
- Includes carabiner for travel
- Collapsible silicone
- BPA free
- One bowl instead of two
- Heavy
- Flimsy
7. WINSEE Collapsible Dog Bowl
The WINSEE Collapsible Dog Bowl collapses and adjusts into three different heights, so you can control how much food and water you give your dog. There are two large bowls attached to a no-spill, silicone, BPA-free mat to avoid tipping over. It also comes with a Frisbee and carabiner as added bonuses.
This is not the most ideal option because the bowls are not detachable from the mat, making it impossible to travel with just one and making it harder to carry, as the mat is 19 inches in length.
- Collapsible in three heights
- No-spill silicone mat
- BPA free
- Includes Frisbee and carabiner
- Harder to store and carry
8. RUFF Collapsible Dog Water Bowl
The RUFF Collapsible Dog Bowl comes as a single item rather than a set of two like some of the other products. It is collapsible and made of human-grade material, so it’s safe for your pet. It’s also able to withstand temperature changes.
The main issue is that it can tear easily along the creases. This is a fine option for short-term use, but it will not withstand many years of wear and tear.
- Collapsible
- Human-grade material
- Temperature resistant
- Weak material
- Comes with one
9. LumoLeaf Collapsible Dog Bowl
The LumoLeaf Collapsible Dog Bowl comes with two large bowls made of BPA-free silicone. It works as a travel dog bowl because it collapses when not in use.
This product is second to last on our list because it comes as a set of two, but they are not detachable from each another, making it difficult to empty out just one side at a time. The size can also vary from what’s stated on the site, so you may receive one that’s smaller or larger than expected.
- Large bowls
- BPA-free silicone
- Not detachable from each other
- Difficult to empty just one side
- Smaller or larger than stated
- Prevent major messes with a water and food bowl mat
10. DogBuddy Travel Bowls
The DogBuddy Travel Bowls come as a set of two bowls that collapse and zip up for travel. They are made of BPA-free silicone.
These bowls don’t detach from each other, making it difficult to empty just one side at a time. There is no carabiner included to attach the set to your pack or the dog leash for travel. The design isn’t a great option for wet food because the food can get stuck inside the folded tiers in the bowl, and the zippered liner can get gross if you have a messy eater, making it difficult to clean if you’re traveling or camping.
- Zips up for travel
- BPA-free silicone
- Set of two attached to one another
- Difficult to empty just one side
- No carabiner for travel
- Not good for wet food
- Difficult to clean out zipper liner
Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Collapsible Dog Bowl for Travel
Material
When beginning your search for the best collapsible water bowl, you should always consider the material of the product. This will affect its overall longevity of use, as well as the amount of food and water that it will hold. There are traditionally two types of collapsible bowls that you can choose between. One is made of silicone and expands and collapses via tiers. The other is made of nylon and is more flexible and foldable.
Silicone
A silicone bowl will allow you to adjust the amount of food or water that you give your dog because it usually has two “modes”: shallow and deep. Silicone is usually easier to clean as well, because you can simply wipe or rinse out the bowl with water. It will also dry faster.
Nylon
Nylon is great for a more flexible option. You cannot adjust the level of deepness of a nylon bowl unless you roll the material down to make it shallower. Certain nylon options come with a drawstring to store food on the go, which can be a nice feature if you want to be able to store the food directly in the bowl. Nylon bowls aren’t the best option for holding water unless they are proven to be waterproof, not just water-resistant.
BPA-free
You should also always make sure that the material of the bowl is BPA free and lacks other harmful chemicals. Make sure it is FDA approved and is human grade because that means that it underwent tests to ensure that it is safe for being in contact with food.
Durable
The material should be durable enough that it will last through at least a few outdoor excursions and trips. Some silicone bowls have thinner material on the seams (which allows them to collapse down), but this shouldn’t be so thin that it will tear after collapsing and opening only a couple of times. If this is the case, you should either be willing to replace them often or to invest in a slightly more durable product.
Additional features
Carabiners
Bowls should come with carabiners for easy attachment to bags and leashes when traveling. There are certain options that come with different kinds of clips, but carabiners have proven to work the best, as they are less likely to break than plastic and are easy to clip on and off due to their size. They allow you to attach the bowl to your backpack, your belt, your pet’s collar, or their leash. It is always preferable to attach it somewhere that will not irritate your pet or make it harder to hold their leash, however.
Helpful Tip
You should purchase your bowls in a set rather than individually because you will most likely need both a food and a water dish, and you can find well-priced, good-quality options sold as sets of two.
Conclusion
When it comes to purchasing a collapsible travel bowl, you can’t go wrong with any of our top three choices. The COMSUN travel bowls are our top pick because they include BPA-free silicone with collapsible tiers, as well as carabiners for easy travel. Our second pick is the WootPet Collapsible bowl because it is a great value, albeit being a little smaller than the COMSUN. Our third pick is the Leashboss because it offers a high-quality nylon alternative to the silicone options.
Collapsible dog bowls are important for trips and for outdoor adventure-seekers, so you want to make sure you’re getting ones that work best for your lifestyle and budget. We hope that you can now take this guide and find the best dog bowl to bring with you and your dog on all your excursions.
Contents
- A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2022 Update)
- The 10 Collapsible Dog Bowls for Travel
- 1. COMSUN Collapsible Dog Bowl – Best Overall
- 2. WootPet Collapsible Dog Bowl – Best Value
- 3. Leashboss Collapsible Dog Bowls – Premium Choice
- 4. Friends Forever Collapsible Dog Bowl
- 5. Guardians Large Collapsible Dog Water Bowls
- 6. Franklin Pet Supply Collapsible Travel Bowl
- 7. WINSEE Collapsible Dog Bowl
- 8. RUFF Collapsible Dog Water Bowl
- 9. LumoLeaf Collapsible Dog Bowl
- 10. DogBuddy Travel Bowls
- Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Collapsible Dog Bowl for Travel
- Conclusion